NotebookForums.com › Forums › Notebook Manufacturers › Dell Forums › Dell Notebooks - General › Information on Dell's new 9100, 9200, and XPS laptops.
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Information on Dell's new 9100, 9200, and XPS laptops. - Page 6

post #101 of 209
2/13/04 at 2:21am
I hope it has the option of a secondary battery and port replicator which I doubt since this is a gaming rig. I hope it's on their website tomorrow. I will probably do RMA tomorrow.
Reply
Reply
post #102 of 209
2/13/04 at 3:11am
damn this thing is sweet...i cant believe u guys dont like the design...
if 8790 doesnt come out soon...i think i will have made my choice....and specially with the wuxga 1920 x 1200!
Reply
Reply
post #103 of 209
2/13/04 at 4:07am
$2,850?!?! That machine is sweet, but not for that amount of money... I will stick with my refurb for awhile
Reply
Reply
post #104 of 209
2/13/04 at 5:32am
The XPS release has been delayed until the end of February.

The 9100 will not be available until the new Dothan chip is released at the start of Q2 (April).

I can't believe you guys are even thinking about buying this mess! If it's pure power you are after, just buy a desktop and get better performance for less money.

If you want a LAPtop (notice the word 'lap') get a portable machine. The 8600 is OK for weight but horrible and thick, like a notebook from 10 years ago. The XPS is (amazingly) even thicker than the 8600. If the 9100 is not based upon a much slimmer chassis (and that means slimmer than the 8600, too) they will have lost me as a customer forever.
Reply
Reply
post #105 of 209
2/13/04 at 5:43am
that is a nice machine that there xps is... but why is it using an amd extension name when it uses the p4? just wondering.

deathinacan
Reply
Reply
post #106 of 209
2/13/04 at 6:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mammyrammer
The XPS release has been delayed until the end of February.
source???

Quote:
Originally Posted by mammyrammer
The 9100 will not be available until the new Dothan chip is released at the start of Q2 (April).
this really makes sence!

Quote:
Originally Posted by mammyrammer
I can't believe you guys are even thinking about buying this mess! If it's pure power you are after, just buy a desktop and get better performance for less money.
couldnt agree more

yet i dont think i will be able to push myself into waiting any longer, been waiting for Dothan for ~4 months until Intels last delay now im getting a Banias. As for buying a Desktop i would wait some 6 months, so we can have PCI-Express, SATA-II, BTX, the new processor sockets and SATA for Optical drives.........
Reply
Reply
post #107 of 209
2/13/04 at 8:31am
There is a post on Dell's own forum by someone who has good contacts with a Dell sales agent. She has told him that the XPS was due to be released yesterday (which is what the media was reporting). However as we know the thing didn't appear on Dell's website. She has been told she will not be able to start taking orders for the XPS until the last week in February.

Not that I'm bothered - If I was a serious gamer I would buy a desktop for true power and upgradability. People who but the XPS will regret it in 12 months time when machines 1/3 thickness appear with the same power and three times the battery life.

I used to moan about the 8600 because of the ugliness and have been waiting for the Dothan machine to appear beuase I thought the design could only get better. Now I'm not so sure and I might buy the 8600 now while it's cheap. Why wait for a 9100 that will be a) uglier b) more expensive and c) only slightly more powerful. Also, if the rumours are true the Dothan processor is FAR less efficient interms of battery. I would not be suprised if the 9100 was in fact an inferior machine to the 8600 in mostrespects.

Disaster!
Reply
Reply
post #108 of 209
2/13/04 at 9:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mammyrammer
There is a post on Dell's own forum by someone who has good contacts with a Dell sales agent. She has told him that the XPS was due to be released yesterday (which is what the media was reporting). However as we know the thing didn't appear on Dell's website. She has been told she will not be able to start taking orders for the XPS until the last week in February.

Not that I'm bothered - If I was a serious gamer I would buy a desktop for true power and upgradability. People who but the XPS will regret it in 12 months time when machines 1/3 thickness appear with the same power and three times the battery life.

I used to moan about the 8600 because of the ugliness and have been waiting for the Dothan machine to appear beuase I thought the design could only get better. Now I'm not so sure and I might buy the 8600 now while it's cheap. Why wait for a 9100 that will be a) uglier b) more expensive and c) only slightly more powerful. Also, if the rumours are true the Dothan processor is FAR less efficient interms of battery. I would not be suprised if the 9100 was in fact an inferior machine to the 8600 in mostrespects.

Disaster!
I'm curious...why do you think the 8600 is so ugly and bulky? I think it's pretty slick. I'd love to have seen it with a metallic alloy case, but that's just a pie-in-the-sky wish of mine. Aside from the ultra-light category of notebooks, I think the 8600 compares nicely with other desktop replacement notebooks.

On the XPS, of course you make valid points about the drawbacks of Dell's new monster. But, many of us suffer from incurable cases of "I-want-the-bestest-most-powerfulest-most-coolest-game-playing-notebook-available" disease. Don't blame us, it's society's fault. Yeah, yeah, that's the reason!
Reply
Reply
post #109 of 209
2/13/04 at 10:08am
Speaking as a designer, the problems for me with the 8600 are numerous.

First off, there is a thick 'rim' around the screen, which protrudes forwards slightly. The thick rim gives the impression that the screen is smaller than it actually is.

Secondly, the colour scheme is dreadful. If you could change the colour of the blue inserts it wouldn't be so bad. The bad use of 2-tone colour is something normally associated with cheaper products, which the 8600 is certainly not.

Finally, and most seriously, the 8600 is THICK. It is thicker than any of it's competitor notebooks. Whilst this may aid internal cooling, it gives the impression to many (uneducated) onlookers that you are using a much older machine, with less advanved engineering. We all know the 8600 is a powerful, cutting edge machine becuase we own or or have considered owning it. Everyone will assume we are using a second-hand machine.

When I spend £2000 on a modern, cutting edge machine I want people to KNOW its a modern machine, not an outdated piece of 10-year old plastic. I am vain I know. But at least I'm honest!
Reply
Reply
post #110 of 209
2/13/04 at 10:13am

XPS is online at DEll

Low end is: 2,599 after rebates...

http://www1.us.dell.com/content/prod...=19&l=en&s=dhs

Reply
Reply
post #111 of 209
2/13/04 at 10:15am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mammyrammer
When I spend £2000 on a modern, cutting edge machine I want people to KNOW its a modern machine, not an outdated piece of 10-year old plastic. I am vain I know. But at least I'm honest!
so your just after a status symbol then?
Reply
Reply
post #112 of 209
2/13/04 at 10:32am
Holy crap look at the secondary battery....and they let you buy it without the usual dell software-junk....


Note: It's official, the skullz cover is just silly. Plasma is okay, Cypher is the best. I don't see an option to have no color.

But showing a 3/15 shipdate..
Reply
Reply
post #113 of 209
2/13/04 at 10:55am
I am slightly disappointed to see that, at least in the initial offering, the WUXGA is the only offering. I'd like to see the WSXGA+ as an option. That'd be my choice.

skuff
Reply
Reply
post #114 of 209
2/13/04 at 11:12am
Everyone on this forum is after a status symbol. Otherwise we would be on the Sager forum
Reply
Reply
post #115 of 209
2/13/04 at 11:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mammyrammer
Everyone on this forum is after a status symbol. Otherwise we would be on the Sager forum
So....

Dell = status symbol

Sager = true performance machine

Is that about right?
Reply
Reply
post #116 of 209
2/13/04 at 11:43am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mammyrammer
Speaking as a designer, the problems for me with the 8600 are numerous.

First off, there is a thick 'rim' around the screen, which protrudes forwards slightly. The thick rim gives the impression that the screen is smaller than it actually is.

Secondly, the colour scheme is dreadful. If you could change the colour of the blue inserts it wouldn't be so bad. The bad use of 2-tone colour is something normally associated with cheaper products, which the 8600 is certainly not.

Finally, and most seriously, the 8600 is THICK. It is thicker than any of it's competitor notebooks. Whilst this may aid internal cooling, it gives the impression to many (uneducated) onlookers that you are using a much older machine, with less advanved engineering. We all know the 8600 is a powerful, cutting edge machine becuase we own or or have considered owning it. Everyone will assume we are using a second-hand machine.

When I spend £2000 on a modern, cutting edge machine I want people to KNOW its a modern machine, not an outdated piece of 10-year old plastic. I am vain I know. But at least I'm honest!
Are you for real?? Your comments lead me to believe that your primary concern for a hi-end notebook computer is for it to look like it belongs on the cover of Architectural Digest...maybe a panoramic photo of the 8600 in the spacious, loft office of a Frank Lloyd Wright home?
Reply
Reply
post #117 of 209
2/13/04 at 11:59am
Umm, I like the XPS design. I really liked the notebooks from 10 years ago. My dad had them and while they weighed 20 pounds, they had everything built in. I can't stand so called "thin-and-light" designs since they have horrible heat displacement. Just look at tablet pc's, they heat up so much that they can't be held in the hands. Then you have the beautiful Sony Vaios, so expensive, so pretty, and you have to carry an additional 10 pounds in external drives and other equipment because the computer itself only has a single optical drive and a Sony card reader.

So in the end, Dell has created a notebook with the proper cooling techniques. No more over heating, decent batteries, and upgradability.
Reply
Reply
post #118 of 209
2/13/04 at 12:20pm
I don't spend £2000 on a computer lightly. When you buy a car you treat design considerations as importantly as you do with performance issues, so why not think the same way when buying a computer, especially one that you will be seen with in public places.

I think it's fair to say that we want notebooks for different reasons. I want a notebook I can watch DVDs and play games on while on the move. I want good battery life AND good performance. The criteria you seem to use to judge a notebook is POWER alone. That's what I can't understand...why don't you just buy a gaming desktop, because you sure as hell won't be going anywhere with this beast
Reply
Reply
post #119 of 209
2/13/04 at 12:22pm

Skip the looks, look at the price

I just finished configuring the XPS a couple different ways. Definitely not worth the price, yet. I know this is the Dell section, but $3600 for a reasonably configured system (by today's standards) is unreasonable. Maxed out it is over $4200. I already don't want to pay over $3000 for a system, but this computer doesn't even add anything new to the table. It's an over priced Sager 8890 with a different screen and better case design.

Try again Dell. Let me know when you have a computer that everyone else doesn't already have cheaper.
Reply
Reply
post #120 of 209
2/13/04 at 12:37pm
Thread Starter 
Yeah, I'm stuck with this problem: 8790 or XPS.

I was absolutely sold on a 8790 but now I dont know....

Why?

1. Upgradeable Graphics, Dedicated Support

"Offered for the first time on Dell notebooks, the Inspiron XPS will feature a graphics upgrade option for enthusiasts who want to stay at the top of their game with leading-edge technology. And, getting the graphics card upgrade is easy. The customer purchases the upgrade, available at a later date, and a Dell technician will be dispatched to install the graphics card at the customer's home. The service is based on the customer's schedule which eliminates the need to send the system back to Dell and experience unnecessary downtime. Additionally, Inspiron XPS customers will have dedicated tech support manned by experienced technicians, oftentimes gamers themselves, who are knowledgeable and able to troubleshoot, diagnose and handle the most demanding inquiries. Dell also works with hardware vendors and game developers so that specific issues can be resolved. "

http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/ti...0212&ID=3390162

So I'm assuming that you can install the M12 into this when it comes out. If the 8790 cant do this, why get the sager then????

2. Battery life

"138 WHr 16-cell Secondary Battery"
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellst...&s=dhs&kc=6V650

WHOA! A 138 WHr 16cell battery?! Sager only offers a 10cell.






The things I'm disapointed in the XPS is:
- No full scale keyboard
- Only a WUXGA to choose from (WSXGA+ would be cheaper)
- Only a P4 3.4EE and P4 3.4 to choose from (P4 3.2 and P4 3.0 would be cheaper)
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Dell Notebooks - General
NotebookForums.com › Forums › Notebook Manufacturers › Dell Forums › Dell Notebooks - General › Information on Dell's new 9100, 9200, and XPS laptops.